Extract Analysis

In this extract from “The Lady in the Lake” we see Chandler depict Philip Marlowe’s first encounter with Bill Chess outside the remote setting of the log cabins by Puma lake. This scene develops into an interrogation-like scenario, as Marlowe pries subtly into, or rather allows for the personal life of Bill Chess to be stated outright, with the detective mentioning the occasional hint or question to allow for a fuller explanation and understanding of the recent occurrences involving the disappearance of Crystal Kingsley. We learn much about both characters in this extract, allowing us to form a good idea of their personalities and mannerisms.

“The Lady in the Lake” is a detective fiction novel, and elements of this genre shine through within this extract alone, from the almost interrogation-like scenario by which Bill pours out his story to Marlowe. In this extract we find Marlowe taking almost a step back from the scenario and acting essentially as a pair of ears tuned in on the monologue presented from Bill - the kind of subtle yet acute manner you would expect from a detective, and this lends itself towards the confirmation of the genre of detective fiction. This confirmation is heightened through the organisation of the extract; secrets are subtly unearthed by the detective, with the possibility of a death having occurred with the discovery of Muriel Chess’ note reading “…I’d rather be dead than live with you any longer. Muriel.” This deepening in severity of the situation opens multiple possibilities as to where the plot could lead the reader; in true detective fiction manner.

With the narrative perspective being that of Marlowe’s, we see through his eyes the event’s occurrences and thus may be presented with a bias. Despite this however, Marlowe is renowned for having a keen eye, proved throughout earlier points in the book, and is always presented as the ‘good guy’ in Chandlers novels - making his an easy perspective to trust. Due to this, we trust his opinion and views on situations and when he uses adjectives like “sadly” to describe Bills dialogue, we begin to look down on Bill as a defeated individual; further enhanced by the line “I like to drink, but not when people are using me as a diary”. This pulls the reader into the reality of the situation, as Marlowe merely views the conversation as business, belittling Bills heartache in a patronising manner and also keeping the audience aware that he is keeping himself sober in order so that he can catch every detail, not in order to comfort Bill.

The purpose of the extract essentially is for Marlowe to gather data; performed via the subtle act when he “passed the bottle” of whisky, effectively lowering Bill Chess’ guard and initial hostility- a direct link to the theme of secrecy when the reader comes to realise that the information Marlowe is looking for requires his subject to be of an inebriated state. This underhand method of obtaining information presents a more sinister view on the work which Marlowe is investigating, and this is confirmed through Bill admitting to adultery and through the use of phrases such as “bedroom eyes” when describing a woman outside of his own marriage.

Upon close inspection of the text, the reader is able to see the more subtle links to theme within the text, for example the more informal, open manner of Bill Chess’ register leads the reader down a route believing that his troubles are self inflicted and in some ways trivial and unwanted information from Marlowe’s perspective. This does change however, quite dramatically as the extract continues, with the lexis of Chess becoming quite heartfelt as he depicts his love for his wife - proved in the extracts closing statement “I hope he treats her better than I did”. The grammar throughout the extract - at least on Bill Chess’s behalf - is quite poor, the extract “ I was just too full of remembering” proving this. This may be down to the fact that he has been pressed beyond the point of caring how he is perceived due to the recent stress caused by the occurrences, just as long as there is someone there to listen to him, an indication towards the more sinister plot unfolding within the novel.